5 Common Sickness And The Food To Prevent Them

Eating certain types of foods will help reduce the risk of developing certain diseases. Here's a quick guide to help you to eating the right food at the right time.


1. Got a cough?
Eat red peppers. A substance similar to that found in cough syrup is found in hot red pepper.

2. Reduce the risk of breast cancer.
Eating wheat bran and cabbage helps to maintain your estrogen at healthy levels.

3. Get rid of that headache!
Eatings lots of fish will provide you with protein and the fish oil helps to prevent headaches. So does ginger which will help to reduce inflammation and pain.

4. Can't sleep at night?
Drink honey - it helps to work as a tranquilizer and sedative.

5. High blood pressure.
Cook your food with olive oil, it has been proven to reduce blood pressure. Celery also contains a chemical that helps to lower your blood pressure.

Bridal House Review Candidate #2 : Regal Bridal House, Penang

Regal Bride is just a few steps away from DeSantia, so we made that our 2nd stop. The outside of the shop was not as decorated and spacious as the one from DeSantia, so the initial impression was that the package would be more indoor oriented and need to go out for the outdoor setting.

A friend who had taken her bridal pictures there about 4 years ago had paid about RM7000 for her package, so we were expecting the package to start from RM3000. Surprisingly, the shop assistant gave an even cheaper quote than Desantia - the package started at RM1999.

The package gave basically the same goodies as the one from DeSantia. However, Regal offered 2 wedding albums (instead of 1) but still with 40 selected pictures from a total of around 100-120 shots. The shop also offered 3 photo frames, 1 for the couple and 2 for each set of parents. However, the gowns offered in the package were 6 pieces with the corresponding suit (and pants if applicable) changes as well.

The gowns at Regal were not very impressive. They had many white dresses but the patterns seem a bit dated and worn. There were not many choices colourwise for wedding gowns as it seemed to use the same standard white cloth. If you are looking for a creamy colour or offwhite, this shop would not be your shop. The evening dresses also seemed a bit worn.

The shop did not allow any outfit trials. The assistant needed some persuasion before she would allow even 1 outfit to be tried. The service provided was a bit lacking and the dressing room should be cleared up (it seemed to be part-storeroom).

This shop did not offer much in terms of differentiation from the other shops and probably can be given a miss unless you are looking for that "WHITE" dress.

5 Great Skin-Care Tips

Great skin doesn't need you to spend mega-bucks on exotic skin packs and facials. Great skin start from good habits. And they're simple to do as well!


1. Use a mild cleanser.
Cleansers that produce a lot of foam gives the psychological effect that it will clean the skin more. However, what most people do not know is that the suds are usually a sign that the cleanser contains a harsh detergent that is more harmful on the skin than beneficial. Look for cleansers that do not foam so much, brands that are hypo-allergenic is usually a good bet. Dove and Simple are two such brands that produce great products. If you have dry skin, this is even more important as normal cleansers will remove even more of your natural skin oil that protects it.

2. Look for retinoid creams.
Retinol, a form of vitamin A, is the only topical ingredient proven not only to prevent lines and wrinkles but to minimize the ones you already have. For those in their 20's, start using these creams for best skin results.

3. Avoid exotic facials.
Studies show that as many as 80% of people break out after a facial and show that there is no long-term benefit to facials. Untrained beauticians may not be able to provide the best care for your skin and sometimes do more harm than good. Products that are used in the shops may not be suitable for the skintype as well, and certain ingredients may actually produce adverse effects on the skin.

4. Wash your face last.
It is recommended that the face is the last area that receives cleansing. Also, it is best to wash the face area twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. If the skin is sensitive or dry, consider washing it once with cleanser (at night) to remove the day's impurities from the skin and just a quick splash of water in the morning.

5. Sunscreen is vital.
The sun's effects can produce pre-aging and wrinkles to the skin. This applies not only to the face but the entire body as well. Take care to cover up the exposed areas with higher SPF sunblock of at least SPF15.

Bridal House Review Candidate #1 : DeSantia Bridal House, Penang

First stop to check out the bridal house is in DeSantia Bridal House. Located along Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, this bridal house is housed in an old refurbished bungalow. The initial package that the sales assistants will offer you is their standard RM2188 package.

However, if you are looking for a simpler package, you can ask for the RM1888 package. There is even a RM1688 package available (you will need to request for it, though) with the following goodies :

Photo Shoot :
- shooting around 100 pcs – selected 40 pcs
- shooting area: Indoor + De Santia Outdoor Garden + 1 Outdoor of choice

Album :
8” X 24” - 20 pages - 30 photos + design

Photo with Frame, choose :
16” X 20” (1 pcs) and 11” X 14” (1 pcs)
OR
20” X 24” (1 pcs)

Photography Gowns:
- 2 pcs wedding gown (vip + s.vip + new design)
- 2 pcs evening gown (vip + s.vip + new design)
- 3 pcs traditional costume – can bring own or use the studio’s
- Groom coat (mix)
- 1 makeup with touch ups + 6 hairdo

Wedding Day Gowns :
- 1 pc wedding/evening gown (vip + s.vip + new design)
- Car deco for 2 cars
- Hand bouquet

Others :
- DVD with 30 photos and design + music
- CD with 30 photos full pixel
- music box
- album set

There are more freebies offered by DeSantia, plus they are quite open to negotiations. So if you have surveyed most other shops and know what you want, feel free to ask for the items that you want.

Most bridal shops will not provide the ampoules and eyelashes in the packages offered. So you will need to cough up additional dollars for these 2 items. DeSantia charges for these items as below :

Ampoules – RM35 per person
Eyelashes – RM25

Bridal House Shopping in Penang, Malaysia

Getting the perfect bridal house to capture your pre-wedding moments could be confusing and a hassle. Here is our guide to getting the bridal house that you want, specific to Penangites.

1. Know what you want.
Are you looking for a certain type of photography technique? Do you want more albums? Or is your main concern the dresses and outfits provided by the shop? You should have a general idea before you go into the bridal houses as it is easy to be confused by hard-selling salespeople.

2. Decide your budget.
Most packages fall into a range of RM2000 - RM3000. There are more expensive packages that run into RM4000 - RM5000 as well. Discuss with your partner on how much you want to spend on this package and then stick to the budget.

3. Don't decide on the first shop you go into.
Survey some shops, get a feel of their services and goods, ask around to get feedback on the shop. Don't sign up on the first foray you make into these shops as it is easy to be overwhelmed and pressured into signing.

4. Check for hidden costs.
Most bridal shops will not tell you on the additional items that you will need to purchase, such as ampoules and eyelashes. Ask them for the prices that they charge (it varies across different shops). Also, ask for any additional costs that they may impose such as the charges for extra shots or pictures.

5. Look at their samples.
Every shop has a variety of bridal books, make sure that you take a look through and see whether their style fits in with yours. Also, make sure to look at the dresses to see whether it suits to your tastes.

6. Ask for extras.
The shops are able to give you more than the "standard" package that they offer. Ask them for those items before signing up.

Keep The Fire Burning...

How do you keep the sizzle and zazzle in your relationship after the initial fireworks have died down? Here are some tips to help you keep that fire burning....


1. Spend some time together.
Grab a movie or go to the beach during the weekends. Just get some time together (without the kids, if you have any) and do something that you both enjoy. Some people recommend quality time to be filled with conversation, but there are times that you can just sit in silence, enjoying the companionship of your mate, and walk away from that feeling like you just had the best conversation in the world.

2. Touch, hug and kiss.
There's just something in a simple hug or kiss that will tell your partner that you love him or her. Just reaching over to your mate and giving a pat on the back will go miles in telling them that you support them. Touches are not limited to just the good times, but a hug after an argument will go a long way to soothing hurts.

3. Talk things over.
If something is bothering you, tell your partner. Problems seems easier to solve when shared together. Similarly, talk over issues that you are not comfortable about.

4. Plan for your future.
Make sure that you and your partner are on the same boat! Budgeting, household responsibilities and financial planning are the major issues that rock the boat. Talk it over and get to know each others' stand and opinions. This will save a lot of arguments further down the road.

Marriage Myths Debunked

Myth 1 : Marriage will end your loneliness.
You're in for a major disappointment if you actually jumped on the marriage bandwagon with this in mind. Many married people are lonely, because according to marriage guru Mike Constantine, it's a case of recognising that "a marriage won't make you happy, but you make a marriage happy."

Myth 2 : You won't be plagued with problems if you're truly in love.
Perfect relationships don't exist. According to renowned psychologist Dr Phil, "Arguing can actually help the quality and longevity of a relationship. The issue isn't whether you fight; it's how you do it."

Myth 3 : Having babies will boost your bond.
Remember post-partum depression? The arrival of a newborn can be hard on a woman's body and emotions. Numerous couples have been driven apart by their children because it adds stress to their marriage.

Myth 4 : Getting married means saying sayonara to your sex life.
Studies have shown that married people have more sex than their unmarried counterparts. Not only do they have sex more often, but they also enjoy it more, both physically and emotionally.

Myth 5 : A great marriage depends on a great meeting of minds.
As Dr Phil puts it, "Men and women are wired up differently. You're different genetically, physically, spiritually.. so why wouldn't you be mentally and emotionally different?" Now, celebrate those differences, and compromise!

Myth 6 : Romance will always be alive in a good marriage.
This isn't Hollywood! In the real world, every relationship has its peaks and valleys. Love will eventually shift from fiery passion to a warm amber glow.

Edifying Your Spouse

How do we keep the flame of romance burning in the midst of crazy schedules and a growing family?


The one to whom we vowed 'to have and to hold... for better or for worse... till death do us part' seems more and more to be a 'stranger in our homes' with the passing of time. Flaws seem to overshadow the positive attributes of our spouses. As such, we see our marriages slowly bur surely disintegrating into mere unions. Is this what we bargained for? ABSOLUTELY NOT! One way to restore a lackluster relationship is EDIFICATION.

EDIFICATION, a term often used in the New Testament, refers to the building up of individuals. When we edify others, we enhance their self-worth. This is a great gift that you can give your husband or wife.

But how should you build up your mate? Husbands and wives should follow biblical principles, like the example in the Song of Solomon. In brief, the husband edifies his wife by praising her. The wife edifies her husband by lovingly responding to him.

God has designed marriage so a husband is dependent on the affirmations of his wife and the appreciation she shows him for all he gives her. In the same way, a wife's sense of beauty depends greatly on what her husband thinks of her. She needs to be nourished with praise, never diminished by criticism.

It is wounding when a husband criticizes his wife. It is equally wounding when a wife lashes out at her husband. Both spouses have a tremendous need for encouragement through words, focused attention, eye contact and loving touch.